JAY TRUAX — BASS

a Surfari from ’82-‘84 and again from ’95-today

Jay’s genre credentials go all the way back to his musical beginnings in 1962, when he began playing surf guitar (on a ’57 Strat) with his first band, the Nomads (who recorded two singles during their heyday of ’62–’64). He soon moved on to bass, and he has been a dedicated bassist ever since.

Later in the ‘60s, Jay went on to compile an impressive rock ‘n roll resumé by playing with a number of bands that figured prominently in the larger music scene:

• ’67–’69 — Spirit of Creation was big in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they opened for most of the major acts that came to town (Grateful Dead, Led Zepplin, Janis, Credence, Canned Heat, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, etc.)

• ’70–’75 — Jay returned to So Cal to co-found the pioneer Christian rock band, Love Song, which recorded three albums and toured the US throughout this period. Love Song was THE most important early band of the “contemporary Christian” genre and the chief model for others that followed.

’75–’77 — Jay played with Richie Furay, veteran of Poco & Buffalo Springfield. (He can be heard on Richie’s first solo album, I’ve got a Reason.)

’78–’79 — Jay toured the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand with fellow Love-Song veteran Chuck Girard, who was by then a major contemporary Christian solo artist.

’80–’82 — Jay got back into surf music by joining Paul Johnson’s Packards in the early days of the “surf-instro revival.”

’82–’84 — Jay’s first stint with the Surfaris (playing rhythm guitar and some bass).

‘85-’90 — freelance gigs with various So Cal rock & blues bands.

’90–’93 — more surf with the Reef Riders (with original Nomad Gregg Samp and Jim Pash of the Surfaris; a classic surf sound).

’95 – Jay rejoined the Surfaris.

Jay is single and lives on Balboa Island CA